An American Family History

Martha Kimball Fowler was born in 1629 in Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England. Her parents were Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott. He was called husbandman.

She came to America with her parents on the ship Elizabeth when she was about five years old.

She married Joseph Fowler in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts and they settled there. Joseph was born about 1629 in England. His parents were Philip and Mary Fowler.

Their children included:
Joseph Fowler (1647, married Elizabeth Hutton),
Philip Fowler (1648, married Elizabeth Herrick),
John Fowler (1655, married Hannah Scott), and
Mary Fowler Breen (married John Breen or Briars).

In 1647, Philip and his father manned the Ipswich watch house for two days. The town paid him three shillings.

In 1649 Joseph was admonished for drinking in woods with his cousin and Martha's brothers. The court record says that some of their wives had to go after them.

In 1650 they sold land and cattle to Martha's father.

In 1651 Joseph's father, Philip, adopted their son Philip. In March of that year he was again presented at court with other young men. That same year Joseph testified in the Ipswich Court in the case of Bradstreet vs Muzzy he said

You have been whipt once allredy for saying [that] the fellow in the silver buttons came and said he swore hime befor the gret saggamore the deputy Gouernar and he would doe the best he could to bring hime to it againe and tould him he would haile hime out by the hares and y^t he was good for nothing but to rune rouging about the Cuntry. That he heard this latly deceased John Cross say that he formarly loved John brodftret well untell that Joseph Muzi had railed such reports on hime which caused him to procscecut against him which he feaied now seing he was a lying fellow had don him rong for the said John cross: said he was such a lying felow thar was noe beleving of him he was a nose to set a hole town and cuntrary togeather by the years.

In 1670 Joseph Fowler from Ipswich was a settler in Wenham.

Joseph was killed by indigenous warriors on May 19, 1676 near Deerfield, Massachusetts on his return from the the Battle of Turner's Falls.